Transfer Gossip

United to offer Evans plus cash for Stones, Liverpool open to Balotelli offers (yes, really), Villa to pay Adebayor £100k per week...

Sergio Ramos to sign new Real deal, United and City join the Stones race, Spurs to sign Lambert, Young to Anfield...

Arsenal in for Busquets, Everton and West Ham want Halilovic, Young, Hernandez and McCarthy to Spurs...

UNITED JOIN STONES RACE
This very column brought news yesterday that Manchester United 'would welcome John Stones at Old Trafford'. Our advice to them was that he was unlikely to arrive at the club unless they made a bit, and it seems someone from United was listening. Great to know.

The Daily Mirror claims that United will make a player-plus-cash deal for Stones. There is little surprise to learn that the player in question is Jonny Evans, who might even be below Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett in Louis van Gaal's central defender options. It's not that long since he was marshalling United's defence successfully.

Chelsea are expected come back in with a £30m bid for Stones, but the papers remark that interest from United and City could push the fee as high as £34m.


LIVERPOOL OPEN TO BALOTELLI OFFERS
We're not quite sure if it's because there is little to no news around this morning, or because various people have decided to have a laugh at once, but most of the papers this morning go with the line that Mario Balotelli is unwanted by Liverpool.

We know, we know, peel yourselves from the ceiling. Sorry to surprise you. It seems that Liverpool are open to offers for the Italian striker. They want to get rid. Tata. Goodbye. Farewell. Get lost.

Perhaps it was the fact that Balotelli has been completely ignored for the whole of pre-season? Or that Liverpool actually cropped him off photos for their website? Or that he hardly played for the last three months of last season? Or the fact that... oh you know the score. He's for sale.


ADEBAYOR TO COMPLETE VILLA MOVE
Another striker on the move is Emmanuel Adebayor, with Spurs fans presumably pinching themselves as they discover that Aston Villa are being persuaded to part with £100,000 a week to pay all of his wages.

The Independent report that Adebayor has already passed his medical at Villa, and will be announced before next Monday. He joins on a season-long loan which will take him to the end of his Spurs contract. You will not receive a shiny penny for guessing that Spurs are unlikely to renew that deal.

Adebayor is not guaranteed to be first choice at Villa Park. They already have Gabby Agbonlahor, Jordan Ayew and Libor Kozak, and look set to sign Rudy Gestede from Blackburn. Are they all as good as Christian Benteke when you put them together?


AND THE REST
Striker Glenn Murray, 31, is ready to quit Crystal Palace with Premier League newcomers Bournemouth ready to snap him up... Hull's £3.5m offer for Moses Odubajo has triggered the release clause in the Brentford defender's contract... England winger Ashley Young could leave Manchester United if they do not extend his contract, with Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle all interested... Sunderland are ready to table an improved offer after a £12.5m bid for Fenerbahce striker Moussa Sow was turned down... Palermo want to sign Arsenal striker Joel Campbell, 23, but are struggling with the £7m valuation.

Liverpool will find out next week West Ham are on the verge of signing Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez, 24, for £10m.whether they can sign Real Madrid's Russian winger Denis Cheryshev, 24, after making a £15m bid... Leicester have made a £5.6million offer 24-year-old for Caen midfielder N'Golo Kante and proposed a four-year contract... Celtic have told striker Anthony Stokes his Parkhead career is effectively over with Hull, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan all interested... Arsenal youngster Isaac Hayden is on the verge of completing a season-long loan deal to Hull City... Tottenham will open talks with Stuttgart over signing German teenager Timo Werner.